Two Riders sign

ST MARYS - St. Marys star Austin Parks followed through on his verbal commitment to The Ohio State University, signing a national letter of intent on Wednesday to join the boys basketball team next year.

Parks, a second-team all-Ohio post player and the Daily Standard's pick for Dream Team Player of the Year as a junior, made the verbal commitment in February shortly before the tournament, where the Roughriders made a run to the regional final.

"It just felt like home, with the distance and being close to family," Parks said Wednesday. "I grew up an Ohio State fan, so it all just fit."

The 6-11 Parks averaged 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for the Roughriders as a junior, shooting 67.6% from the field and taking a massive leap forward from an already strong sophomore season.

Behind Parks and talented sophomores Evan Angstmann and Jace Turner, St. Marys reached its first regional final since 1993 with a win over Huron in the regional semifinals. The Roughriders lost to Gilmour Academy to end the season.

"Obviously I want to build off what we did last year, when we went to regionals," Parks said. "I want to see us go to state and hopefully win there, and then I've got my own individual goals as well."

Parks will join coach Chris Holtmann's Buckeyes, which won their opener against Robert Morris on Monday. Last year, Ohio State reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Villanova, finishing 20-12.

Huston signs with Muskies

Halle Huston, who helped St. Marys reach a district final two weeks ago, also announced her college plans on Wednesday, signing a letter of intent to play volleyball at Muskingum.

"It felt like home, I love the coaches, and they have a good volleyball program," Huston said.

Huston averaged 2.9 kills per set and provided a 1-2 punch with junior Brynn Clark for the Roughriders' attack as St. Marys went 17-10 and 6-3 in the Western Buckeye League, ultimately reaching the district final for the first time since 2015 before a four-set loss to Liberty-Benton to end the season.

In the tournament, Huston racked up 45 kills over St. Marys' four matches, including 10 in a dramatic five-set victory over Celina in the district semifinals. Huston also gave the Roughriders a three-point service run to even the fifth set, which St. Marys ultimately won 16-14, and she pointed to that match as one of the biggest highlights of her high school career.

Muskingum, a Division III school competing in the Ohio Athletic Conference, finished the season at 18-8 with a five-set loss to John Carroll in the semifinals of the OAC Tournament on Nov. 3.

The Muskies are coached by Hallie Cruzen, who will be entering her seventh season in 2023.

Huston, who plans to major in physical therapy, said the coaches intend to have her at outside hitter and play all around the rotation. She is working on strength training and improving her vertical before her freshman year.